In an apparent political compromise, the Scorpions are reportedly to remain under the National Prosecuting Authority, but will be pulled out of the justice department.

City Press reported yesterday that a cabinet decision to this effect was expected within the next few days. This comes after a recent discussion of the report by Judge Sisi Khampepe on the future of the Scorpions by the National Security Council.

Presidential spokesman Murphy Morobe said yesterday he was not aware that the matter had been discussed or that it was to be placed before the cabinet.

Should such a decision be taken it will save the Scorpions from calls for it to be dismantled or placed under the authority of the police. Pressures on the unit rose last year after the Scorpions were involved in investigating the cases of Jacob Zuma and Schabir Schaik and the parliamentary travel voucher fraud.

Pressure and tension between various security agencies prompted President Thabo Mbeki to appoint an inquiry headed by Khampepe last year.

Independent researchers and analysts at Idasa and the Institute for Security Studies have said it would be difficult for the unit to operate effectively in the vast bureaucracy of the police.

With acknowledgements to Jonathan Katzenellenbogen and Business Day.